Technical Expert Business Development Employment Opportunity – Agricultural Business Initiative (aBi)

Organisation: Agricultural Business Initiative (aBi)
Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda
Reports to: Chief Operations Officer aBi Trust
Job Ref No: TECH
About US:
The
Agricultural Business Initiative (aBi), a group of registered companies namely
aBi Trust and aBi Finance Ltd, is a multi-stakeholder entity co-founded in July
2010 by the Governments of Uganda and Denmark through DANIDA and the Ministry
of Finance, Planning and Economic Development respectively, with the objective
to promote “Private sector agribusiness development to enhance wealth creation.”
The development objective of the aBi Trust is building a self-sustaining
export-led economy in which the benefits are shared by all Ugandans, and its
immediate objective is to strengthen the competitiveness of Uganda’s
agricultural and agro-processing sector. It does this through Value Chain
Development (VCD) of six value chains (Coffee, Cereals, Pulses, Horticulture,
Dairy and Oil Seeds) and Financial Services Development (FSD). 
aBi
Finance Ltd is the investment arm of aBi that aims to enable the Trust to meet
its programme activities in a sustainable manner by offering financing for
agribusiness development through Lines of Credit, Agribusiness Loan Guarantees
and the Construction Guarantees Fund.
Job Summary: The Technical Expert Business Development will be responsible
for leading aBi in understanding and implementing best practice in Business
Development; ensuring that aBi continuously develops new and more effective
approaches to have a positive impact on sustainable growth of the agricultural
sector in Uganda.
Key Duties and Responsibilities: 
1. Contribute to the
development and implementation of aBi’s strategic and operational plans;
ensuring that emerging understanding of best practise in Business Development
is incorporated:
  • Take lead of the team in understanding
    Business Development in Uganda’s agricultural sector, by regularly
    reviewing and performing analysis on market trends; researching relevant
    fields in order to identify constraints and interventions that will have a
    positive impact.
  • Actively participate in strategy and policy
    development; ensuring that insights relevant to Business Development are
    incorporated in the design.
  • Support the Business Development Manager
    Financial Institutions, Head of Portfolio Development and Project Managers
    in the design of projects that will boost the impact, profitability and
    sustainability of implementing partners.
  • Support the COO aBi Finance with the
    development and management of the budget.
  • Report and/or contribute to reports on status
    of implementation of various operational and strategic plans as assignedd.
  • Actively participate in operationalizing the
    relevant areas of risk management framework and Identify key risks on
    planned interventions and implement mitigating actions.
2. Act as aBi’s expert in
Business Development; building the capacity of staff and implementing partners
to understand and follow best practise in Business Development:
  • Proactively keep abreast of best practise in
    Business Development; e.g. through professional development, research,
    participation in learning networks, and collaborations with research
    institutes etc.
  • Guide aBi management on engagement and
    deployment of expertise in Business Development.
  • Proactively share best practise in Business
    Development including advising on business sustainability & growth
    strategies, with colleagues within the PQL department, other aBi staff and
    stakeholders e.g. by sharing learning, giving advice on related fields
    etc.
  • Build the capacity of staff and implementing
    partners in Business Development; including developing and running
    appropriate training programs, providing advice and consultancy support
    etc.
  • Actively participate in and convene forums on
    Business Development to share/acquire knowledge in this sector for the
    benefit of aBi and its stakeholders.
  • Plan the detail of aBi’s capacity building
    interventions.
3.  As requested by the COO aBi Finance to act as
a member of Matrix Teams; contributing Business Development elements to
project/intervention design and implementation:
  • Develop approaches and tools that will
    support members of project teams and implementing partners to operate
    according to best practise in Business Development.
  • Support project teams and Business
    Development Manager FI with Business Development components of
    implementation of developed plan.
  • Ensure that the Business Development
    components of the project are rolled out on time and to standard;
    including supervising the work of any Business Development consultants who
    have been deployed.
  • Supervise the roll out of other areas of
    technical expertise and/or the implementation of cross cutting themes as
    requested by Technical Team leader.
4. Contribute to the development
of aBi’s Communication Plan, playing a part in implementing the plan according
to availability: Including but not limited to areas pertaining to Business
Development:
  • The jobholder will develop the Business
    Development aspects of the influencing, advocacy and communications plan.
  • Roll-out the Business Development aspects of
    the communications plan in line with approved guidelines; so that aBi is
    recognised as a respected voice.
  • Build influential relationships with key
    Business Development stakeholders; represent aBi to key stakeholders,
    behaving professionally and with integrity at all times.
  • Actively participate in the development of
    communications materials as requested by the Communications Manager.
  • Make relevant presentations at conferences and
    produce publications as opportunities arise.
     
Qualifications, Skills and Experience: 
  • The applicant for the Technical Expert
    Business Development job opportunity should hold an MBA / Masters in
    Finance, Accounting or Economics or in any relevant technical area
  • The applicant must also hold a degree in
    either Business Administration, Economics, Accounting, Commerce and
    Agribusiness or a relevant professional qualification.
  • PGD – Project Management (added advantage)
  • A minimum of seven years relevant experience
    in Private Sector/ Agribusiness/Agriculture Development.
  • Proven experience and expertise in the
    provision of Business Development Services
  • Knowledge of risk management.
  • Possession of financial analytical skills.
  • Excellent oral and written communication
    skills
  • Knowledgeable about business finance and
    portfolio development.
  • Demonstrated experience in providing
    technical assistance / advisory services to Implementing Partners.
  • Ability to advise private sector or Business
    Development Partners using market systems/ solutions approach.
  • Familiarity of usage of databases and
    Microsoft Office.
How to Apply: 
All
suitably qualified and interested candidates should apply online by clicking on
link below and following the instructions.
Deadline: 8th July 2016 by 12:00pm  

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